Health

Doctors get pay rise, surgeons get the most

Doctors around the country have received a pay rise ranging from 56% to 81%. The Minister of Health, Jone Usamate told Newswire the pay rise was handled by the Ministry of Civil Service. USAMATE: “The remuneration of the doctors are being managed by the Ministry of Civil Service, and I am happy with the pay […]

Nacanieli Tuilevuka

August 4, 2016 12:56 pm

Doctors around the country have received a pay rise ranging from 56% to 81%.

The Minister of Health, Jone Usamate told Newswire the pay rise was handled by the Ministry of Civil Service.

USAMATE: “The remuneration of the doctors are being managed by the Ministry of Civil Service, and I am happy with the pay increase. All doctors are getting a pay rise.”

The Minister of Economy, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had announced the pay increase during the 2016-17 National Budget announcement in June. Minister Sayed-Khaiyum had said $40.7 million was allocated for doctors’ salaries.

The Executive Secretary of the Fiji Medical Association, Dr Alipate Vakamocea told Newswire all doctors employed by the Government had received a pay increase from the first week of August.

Dr Vakamocea clarified that doctors from different specialisations had a different pay rise, as the work and hours put in varied.

VAKAMOCEA: “A surgeon at CWM works for 6 hours a day or 8 hours a day, staying there for 36 hours, waiting there and looking after patient whereas a doctor in Ono-i-lau sees only 4 or 5 patients every day. You can see the difference…We have tried to make adjustments based on how busy you are, what position you have.”

Dr Vakamocea added that some psychiatric doctors were unhappy about the “grading” given to them, as the increase was less than they expected.

VAKAMOCEA: “We told all our members this is just preliminary and it’s going to be fixed for a period of 1 years and reviewed after that. After a period of 1 year, we’ll be taking into account and adjusting it accordingly.”

A Suva-based Doctor, speaking to Newswire on the condition of anonymity, said the Association had “just made up their system and proposed it as the best”. The doctor was unhappy that surgeons got the highest pay increase.

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